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A Climb Worth Following: Soldiers to the Summit

Posted on: September 27th, 2010 by Erik Lambert

The Soldiers to the Summit Expedition will take place October 2-21, 2010.

In less than a week, 12 injured soliders and 10 Everest climbers will attempt two Himalayan summits as part of Soldiers to the Summit:

“Among the many tragedies of war are the serious injuries inflicted upon our soldiers. When they return home, these heroes often have disabilities that may seem insurmountable. The goal of the Soldiers to the Summit Himalayan Expedition (SSHE) and World TEAM Sports is to demonstrate to everyone that great things can be achieved no matter how high the obstacles.

In spring of 2001, the most successful expedition in Everest history placed 19 climbers on the summit. Among them was Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind person to climb the highest mountain on all seven continents. This momentous achievement proved to be life changing for each of the team members. Indeed, many have returned to Everest; between them, they now have reached the summit 32 times. With the tenth anniversary of their historic expedition approaching, the team wants to give back in a meaningful way.

The SSHE has assembled a team of injured military men and women. After training sessions in Colorado, in the fall we’ll set out for Nepal to conquer our two summits. The first is the technical rock, snow, and ice climb of Lobuche East. At 20,075 foot, Lobuche is a spectacular peak at the foot of Mount Everest. The second is Kala Pattar, a more moderate, 18,519 foot mountain overlooking Everest base camp.

With Erik and the Everest team, our injured soldiers will have an adventure that few able-bodied people can imagine. It will be a mental and physical challenge for everyone—and will undoubtedly be one of the greatest experiences of their lives.”

The team takes off October 2, but you can follow along with the latest Facebook and Twitter updates from sponsoring organization World Team Sports, as well as the RSS feed on SSHE home page.

On behalf of the AAC membership, we wish the team all the best!

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